So, I have never done this before....what does one even talk about? I mean sure, there are hundreds of topics to chat about, technically- but where do I start?? I have so much to say about so many things! lol.
Wanna know the number one question that clients ask me?. Nope, it's not about skin care or brows lol. No. It's "Is this what you've always been doing?" and "How and why did you start this business?".
So lets start there...
No, this is not what I've always been doing. My first "official job" - and what I mean by "official" is a job that paid BILLS-BILLS, as a single mom lol - was as a Sales Manager and Accounts Receivable Rep for a Wholesale Cosmetics Manufacturers Company.
Look, I didn't mind the job- first of all, I learned a lot about business, negotiation, and money. I got along with my boss, I loved my co-workers, AND, I got to try and see all kinds of new Cosmetics & Perfumes. I would especially get excited about receiving new shipments of makeup and skin care. We would receive some of the most "luxurious" makeup & skin care out in the market. I'm talking about YSL, Chanel, you name it. I would walk to the warehouse during my break, and look inside the boxes to see what we received, and then would read reviews on them, lol. Sometimes my boss would let me take home samples if they were about to expire, and I would review them on my YouTube channel.
I think that's when my passion for Cosmetics and Skin Care truly started.
But with that being said, the job was okay- it got my bills paid, gave me financial freedom, it was fun at times, I got to travel.......but I just never felt fulfilled. "Something" was just missing. I started going through a phase where I constantly questioned "Is this really what I wanna do for the rest of my life? Sales and Bookkeeping? Working for 'someone else'?". Mmmm, yeah, no. Pass. It just wasn't for me. And hey, listen, some people are totally fine with that- and that's great for them! Benefits, 401K, 9 to 5 schedule, and you actually have a LIFE outside of work! Its a smart choice to work for someone else. But then again, it just wasn't what I wanted for my life. So what should I do? Well, start a business- duh! But AH! Better said than done, right?! What kind of business? Doing what? I don't even know what I like! Do I? 😕 ..........All I knew was: l wanted to work with my hands and help women, someway, somehow. But doing what?
But God is good! So what does He do? He sends my co-worker to my desk, on the same day that I was THIS CLOSE to having a mental breakdown from how stressed out I was. She says:
"Hey Vera! Check this out. Have you seen this before?", she shows me her phone, and it was a picture of a pair of Microbladed eyebrows.
"You should do this!" she said.
"What? Me? But I already have really full brows, I don't need that, Janett", I tell her.
"No boba, YOU should do-do this. You should learn how to Microblade brows!"
"Who?? Me?? Omg no way. I could never TATTOO someones face. Only an artist can do that. That's an art!" I say to her, and continue typing away on my computer.
"Well, you can learn." she says to me "If I was your age, this is what I would be doing. If I could only go back in time..........." she says, as she walks back to her desk.
So that's when I started thinking......and thinking.....and thinking........
Okay, okay. I mean, I'm no artist, but I mean, I am artistic and I do love eyebrows. I was actually known as "the eyebrow girl" in High School for a while- I would pluck my friend's brows during lunch time with some old ass Revlon tweezers I had, for $5 bucks. Btw, I love the tweezers from Revlon. "Well can I actually make enough money to pay my bills and support myself and the kids financially?" I thought. So, I googled how much Microblading artists charge for a pair of brows. And of course, that's what I started looking up "Microblading courses near me" lol.
Long story short: I took the class. I loved it. I started practicing on latex skin. Then started charging only $150 for a set of brows. Until I got better and better, raised my prices, and eventually made back all the money that I had invested in the course, and more. What did I do next, you ask? Well of course, my impulsive ass quit my day job 😑
Now, of course, I had my husband there to fall back on if shit went left...but I was never one to take my financial independence lightly. So failing was never an option here.
So I took the leap of faith....and it was one of the best decisions I had ever made. Because during that year, I was able to solely focus on growing my business, expand my services, and work towards my second passion: skin care.
Getting my Skin Care license was a huge conquist for me, as ultimately Skin care was always one of my passions and always on my radar. I always knew the importance of having clear skin and how that played a big part of our self esteem and image.
Side note- Many people dont know this, but I used to suffer from acne when I was younger, mainy on my forehead. It used to make me so self conscious- I felt like people could only see my acne bumps when talking to me. Of course, now I realize it was all in my head and my acne wasn't even as bad as I thought it was. But still........
My face eventually cleared up, and I started to feel more confident and comfortable in my skin....consequently making me feel a lot better about other things in my life.
ANYWAYS. So- I was doing my thing....paying my bills....learning, growing....spending more time with my kids, and at the time, "new husband" 😆. LIFE. IS. GOOD!
I finally felt fulfilled! I finally "belonged". I finally "knew".
After experiencing a difficult...and let me honest, shitty upbringing...and challanging early adulthood (but that's a story for another time, maybe)...where I was constantly told "you cant do this".."you cant do that".....guess what? I did. I am.
One of my favorite quotes: "A successful woman is one who can build a firm foundation with the bricks that others have thrown at her".
I finally started to feel at "peace". I was finally on the right track.
That constant anxiety of "What am i gonna do with my life?" was finally gone.....now I know.
Now I make beautiful connections with all kinds of beautiful women- inside and out.
Now I establish meaningful relationships.
Now I have clients and friends who cherish and appreciate my professional opinion.
Now I am a safe place for women to come chat and relax, while also getting beautified.
Now I am helping women with their self image.
Now I am trusted.
Now I am a part of something beautiful..........
And all thanks to-
You.
Thank you for trusting me.
Thank you for believing in me.
Thank you for supporting me.
I say this with my heart on my shoulders.......
Thank you.
To be continued................
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